Mortal Follies

A Novel

By: Alexis Hall

Narrated by: Nneka Okoye

A young noblewoman must pair up with an alleged witch to ward off a curse in this irresistible sapphic romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material.

“Fresh and delightful . . . All the interpersonal drama of Jane Austen meets all the complex treachery of Greek mythology.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

It is the year 1814, and life for a young lady of good breeding has many difficulties. There are balls to attend, fashions to follow, marriages to consider, and, of course, the tiny complication of existing in a world swarming with fairy spirits, interfering deities, and actual straight-up sorcerers.

Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds her entry into high society hindered by an irritating curse. It begins innocuously enough with her dress slowly unmaking itself over the course of an evening at a high-profile ball, a scandal she narrowly manages to escape.

However, as the curse progresses to more fatal proportions, Miss Mitchelmore must seek out aid, even if that means mixing with undesirable company. And there are few less desirable than Lady Georgiana Landrake—a brooding, alluring young woman sardonically nicknamed “the Duke of Annadale”—who may or may not have murdered her own father and brothers to inherit their fortune. If one is to believe the gossip, she might be some kind of malign enchantress. Then again, a malign enchantress might be exactly what Miss Mitchelmore needs.

With the Duke’s help, Miss Mitchelmore delves into a world of angry gods and vindictive magic, keen to unmask the perpetrator of these otherworldly attacks. But Miss Mitchelmore’s reputation is not the only thing at risk in spending time with her new ally. For the reputed witch has her own secrets that may prove dangerous to Miss Mitchelmore’s heart—not to mention her life.

Critic reviews

“Alexis Hall can always be counted on to deliver a sweet and compelling historical romance that explores the paths that queer people forged to find love. Mortal Follies more than satisfies.”—NPR

“[Mortal Follies] is a lovely, pitch-perfect romance, with an alternate Regency setting that is well developed and has tremendous charm. . . . Part historical, part fantasy, all top-notch queer romance.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[Mortal Follies] proves a fresh and delightful addition to the queer romance canon. . . . All the interpersonal drama of Jane Austen meets all the complex treachery of Greek mythology. Full of adventure, chaos, magic, and lust, this will enthrall Hall’s fans and new readers alike.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“From the book’s puckish narrator—whose sly observations on humanity add another layer of humor to the story—to the whimsically wonderful, witty writing that evokes Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde, Hall . . . [creates] an effervescent, genre-blurring romantic confection that will be utterly irresistible to fans of Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Zen Cho.”—Booklist

I’m just here for Ms. Bickle

This is a well written book, my complaints are entirely personal taste, in that I couldn’t try as I might to summon an interest in the two heroines story, I just didn’t find them compelling. I didn’t find Ms. Mitchell insufferable as I did her cousin John, but it was at times a struggle for me to continue listening to the book even near the end. I would have quit if not for the fantastic narrator and of course, perfection embodied that is the character of Ms. Bickle. I’m eager to read more of this Authors books particularly if the narrator returns, I’m hoping it was a mere mismatch of main characters. The pacing could also use some work though now that I think about it.

Pitch perfect

Pitch perfect performance by the narrator in this delicious and witty confection of a book.

Supernaturally Good

I love Alexis Hall’s work, so I couldn’t wait to read this book, but I still have to admit that it somehow surpassed my expectations thoroughly. Incredible and distinct characters, a wild plot, clever humor that led to me laughing out loud multiple times while driving by myself… and a narrator that is stupendous. I refer to both the in-book narrator, and the Nneka Okoye who absolutely nailed this performance. Even the best book can be ruined by a poor narrator, and the worst book improved by a great one. This was the best book, and a great one.

Magic across the board.

So Unique

I loved this! So unique and funny. I adored the female friend character.I'll definitely read more by this author!

Excellent story, perfect narrator

I read this book and loved it, but it’s the sort of first person narrative that is enhanced by a well matched narrator. This is the reason I like audiobooks so much. The narrator is so good for the story, the tone and humor come through perfectly.

Highly recommended!